1/2 way through--how much sand to put back

fambrough · 03/07/2009, 11:51 AM

I've got my 37 cube empty. I've got the old sand out and rinsed with tank water. How many inches should I put back?

I'm doing this because of inadequate nutrient export and a build up nutrients in what was a three to four in sand bed.

I'm not going bare bottom. My choices are put it all back again and just clean it more frequently. OR put just a couple inches back and still clean it more frequently. I'm not going deep sand bed here either.

Thanks! I've got just a couple hours left to get this done!

zooxanth · 03/07/2009, 12:55 PM

2 inches work fine for me

reefscape15 · 03/07/2009, 06:12 PM

As much as you want in your tank. The sand bed shouldn't ever need to be cleaned, just stock a good clean-up crew and make sure that water is in check

CHEMCHEF · 03/07/2009, 06:55 PM

Ditto

fambrough · 03/07/2009, 09:11 PM

Seriously got to disagree with you guys on this. Sandbeds need to be recharged. They are not best "as much as you want." They will function best as either shallow, meaning one to two inches, or deep, meaning more that five. It is also a function of the grain size how well they support a diverse population of life. The grain size and depth I was using was not a good choice for long term success. Clean up crews are a very important part of managing excess nutrients, but they are far from a magic bullet. My decision about how much I put back in will directly determine an important aspect of my methodology. As it is, I've decided to go with a shallow depth, that I will be able to recharge, manage, occasionally change out sections, even vacuum from time to time. I would never recommend to anyone a three to four inch bed as I had. It's not deep enough to have any anaerobic areas for strong denitrification. It's not shallow enough to easily recharge. One of my sand beds is approaching four years old. So far so good. It happens to be a shallow bed of mixed, but mostly fine grain sand. I wish I could go bare bottom in the tank I'm dealing with now, but that would allow the anemones access to the glass and powerheads.

To be fair, I should have linked to my other post explaining in much greater detail why I'm doing this. And, also to be fair, there are divergent methodologies with parallel success. So, YMMV.

As it hapens, I only did not finish my project today. Five hours was not enough time. I did set up a 10 gallon for the clownfish. The nems and most of the rock are in a large rubbermaid with a heater and powerhead. The sand I'm saving has been flushed several times with tank water. You should see the crap that came out of it. It didn't smell, but what a thick sludge of built up detritis.

I'll be able to get the nems reacclimated tomorrow with what will effectually be a 50% WC. I plan to keep the clowns segregated to their temporary home until the nems recover.

Thanks for the replies and thanks for reading.

03/07/2009, 11:51 AM	#1
fambrough Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland Heights Posts: 545	1/2 way through--how much sand to put back I've got my 37 cube empty. I've got the old sand out and rinsed with tank water. How many inches should I put back? I'm doing this because of inadequate nutrient export and a build up nutrients in what was a three to four in sand bed. I'm not going bare bottom. My choices are put it all back again and just clean it more frequently. OR put just a couple inches back and still clean it more frequently. I'm not going deep sand bed here either. Thanks! I've got just a couple hours left to get this done! __________________ ...if you get confused, listen to the music play... Current Tank Info: 40 breeder clown/anemone tank; RR 75 mixed corals and fish: radions over both, vortechs; one 37 cube fresh water with ryukin goldfish

03/07/2009, 12:55 PM	#2
zooxanth Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scotland, United Kingdom Posts: 149	2 inches work fine for me __________________ The Solotion To Pullution Is Dillution Current Tank Info: 450ltr bowfront, 6 54w t5's, sumpless, Deltec mce 600, aquatronica with dosing pumps for balling lite

03/07/2009, 06:12 PM	#3
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	As much as you want in your tank. The sand bed shouldn't ever need to be cleaned, just stock a good clean-up crew and make sure that water is in check __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H

03/07/2009, 06:55 PM	#4
CHEMCHEF Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island Posts: 145	Ditto __________________ Chemchef Current Tank Info: Mostly SPS/Mixed reef

03/07/2009, 09:11 PM	#5
fambrough Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland Heights Posts: 545	Seriously got to disagree with you guys on this. Sandbeds need to be recharged. They are not best "as much as you want." They will function best as either shallow, meaning one to two inches, or deep, meaning more that five. It is also a function of the grain size how well they support a diverse population of life. The grain size and depth I was using was not a good choice for long term success. Clean up crews are a very important part of managing excess nutrients, but they are far from a magic bullet. My decision about how much I put back in will directly determine an important aspect of my methodology. As it is, I've decided to go with a shallow depth, that I will be able to recharge, manage, occasionally change out sections, even vacuum from time to time. I would never recommend to anyone a three to four inch bed as I had. It's not deep enough to have any anaerobic areas for strong denitrification. It's not shallow enough to easily recharge. One of my sand beds is approaching four years old. So far so good. It happens to be a shallow bed of mixed, but mostly fine grain sand. I wish I could go bare bottom in the tank I'm dealing with now, but that would allow the anemones access to the glass and powerheads. To be fair, I should have linked to my other post explaining in much greater detail why I'm doing this. And, also to be fair, there are divergent methodologies with parallel success. So, YMMV. As it hapens, I only did not finish my project today. Five hours was not enough time. I did set up a 10 gallon for the clownfish. The nems and most of the rock are in a large rubbermaid with a heater and powerhead. The sand I'm saving has been flushed several times with tank water. You should see the crap that came out of it. It didn't smell, but what a thick sludge of built up detritis. I'll be able to get the nems reacclimated tomorrow with what will effectually be a 50% WC. I plan to keep the clowns segregated to their temporary home until the nems recover. Thanks for the replies and thanks for reading. __________________ ...if you get confused, listen to the music play... Current Tank Info: 40 breeder clown/anemone tank; RR 75 mixed corals and fish: radions over both, vortechs; one 37 cube fresh water with ryukin goldfish